Patrick Hennessy writes about politics for the Telegraph.

Government reshuffle: breaking news on Phil Woolas and others

Phil Woolas is to be the new immigration minister, Three Line Whip can reveal. He will succeed Liam Byrne who is moving up to the Cabinet Office to be the government's "enforcer".

Woolas is a trenchant character who will be well suited to one of Whitehall's toughest jobs. The news has not been officially announced by Number 10 yet but sources close to Woolas have confirmed it.

The announcement of the rest of the reshuffle – concentrating on middle and junior ranks of government – is expected mid-afternoon today. I am told there will be a major reconstruction of the government whips' office under Nick Brown, with the emphasis, once more, on "experience". Veterans Tommy McAvoy and John Spellar are expected to join Nick Brown's team.

I have also heard that Ian Austin will no longer be Gordon Brown's parliamentary private secretary (PPS) – but will get a government job instead, although I am yet to confirm this. If the PM does change his PPS, the new one is likely to be Jon Trickett, who was a prominent critic of the Iraq War._______________________________________________Update

Sources close to Ian Austin have now confirmed he will move to the whips' office and that Jon Trickett will be the PM's new PPS.